Fashion & Design: Gurumantra

HER Team
Kiran Sabnis, Co-founder Gurumantra
Mentoring Creative Minds

Gurumantra is an innovative institute for students who aspire to establish their career in creative fields like design, architecture and fashion. A pragmatic pedagogical approach embarks every student on a unique journey of introspection, exposure, and empowerment. A student-centric eco-system with personalized learning paths sets Gurumantra a breed apart.

"Many of our students are performing exceedingly well in top design schools like NID, IDC, IIT, NIFT, Srishti, MIT, SID and many architecture colleges. Though, we work relentlessly to see more and more of our students enter the top design schools in India and abroad, pursuit for 'holistic transformation of the students' is our anchor," says Prasanna Joshi, Co-founder, Gurumantra.

Today, many students of MAD School are studying reputed colleges like SPA, JJ School of Arts, JNAFAU, NIFT, NID and IDC.

Formally launched in 2014, they have been actively perpetuating design awareness across students, parents and the society at large. The diligent team at Gurumantra has meticulously designed their platform to dynamically cater to students with diverse backgrounds, varied needs and assorted skill-sets. Right from induction, the empathetic orientation experience adapts to the multitude of emotions such as anxiety, stress that affect students and helps them build a positive outlook to a sustainable design career.

A dedicated research team curates modules and assignments with specific learning objectives. "Our mentors come from top design schools across the world and possess rich experience in industry and academia. They are passionate to bring a paradigm shift in society's 'perception of design,'" states Pranali Valsangkar, Co-founder, Gurumantra. They focus on four major learning aspects - learning by doing (experiential classroom), getting the thought process right (creative problem solving), learning from peers (collaborative learning) and learning through self-realization (participative and introspective awareness).

An informal meet for all students every week called as "Design Katta" provides an opportunity to collaborate with practicing designers, connect with alumnus and design school students. Past sessions include film appreciation, nature walks, wall painting & cognitive psychology. It is an avenue to showcase their creativity, boost confidence & social awareness.

The academy firmly believes that constructive and well-rounded feedback provided time to time is quintessential for students. The team has therefore launched a digital collaboration platform called GOLD (Gurumantra On-Line Design) for mentoring remotely located aspirants as well as enabling a seamless interaction between parents, students and faculty. They also conduct 'Design Sensitization' workshops at various engineering and management colleges, urging students to deliberate prospective careers offered by design industry.

Gurumantra covets to be 'The Most Trusted Brand' that students reach out to - for highest quality comprehensive mentoring and genuine career guidance. "We have plans to introduce short-term courses for school children to evaluate their interest in design, architecture and fashion related careers. We want every student to think about design as a possible career option and experience creative metamorphosis with us at least once in his/ her lifetime," concludes Kiran Sabnis, Co-founder, Gurumantra.

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